With Justice League being released this weekend, I decided I better prepare myself for the film by revisiting one of my favorite shared universes, the DCAU. The animated movies and television shows brought to us by Bruce Timm and Paul Dini. Their Justice League show was an essential part of my childhood, and upon every viewing, provides me with an overwhelming amount of nostalgia.
Here is a list of my top five episodes of the series. I cheated here by counting each arch (which usually consists of two actual episodes) as one spot on the list. This list proved to be incredibly difficult to make, and is certainly not set in stone.
Honorable Mentions: Almost every other episode.
5) Secret Origins
These episodes deserve a spot on my list simply because it is the introduction and coming together of the team. The alien villains are one dimensional, but the emphasis is on the protagonists. Their chemistry here is solid, and it is a terrific way to start the show.
4) The Savage Time
This story arch finds our heroes returning to Earth to find that the Allies lost WWII. The episode that gave us the Justice League fighting Nazis, including their giant circular tanks. A three-episode story arch that is truly epic.
3) Legends
Episodes including the JLA and the JSA? Count me in. Although I enjoy the whole of both episodes, I put them at number three because of the Twilight Zone-esque twist, a rather daring choice for the show to make.
2) Twilight
Jack Kirby fans rejoice! The show goes all out cosmic insanity, and provides us with a generous amount of Fourth World characters. Superman is the stand out in these episodes, who is rightfully hesitant to help Darkseid fight Braniac.
1) Epilogue
Oddly enough this is the only JLU episode to make my list, and it takes the number one spot. This episode is part Batman Beyond, part Justice League, but works on both fronts, and acts as an earned amalgamation of the whole DCAU. One scene stands out for me, when Batman confronts the meta-human Ace, and stays with her until her death. A truly remarkable moment.